FFQA 1

BAD DEBTS ACCOUNTING

A bad debt is an amount that is written off by the business as a loss to the business and
classified as an expense because the debt owed to the business is unable to be collected, and
all reasonable efforts have been exhausted to collect the amount owed. This usually occurs
when the debtor has declared bankruptcy or the cost of pursuing further action in an attempt
to collect the debt exceeds the debt itself.
The debt is immediately written off by crediting the debtor 's account and therefore eliminating
any balance remaining in that account. A bad debt represents money lost by a business which is
why it is regarded as an expense.

Doubtful debts are those debts which a business or individual is unlikely to be able to collect.
The reasons for potential non payment can include
disputes over supply,
delivery and conditions of goods,
the appearance of financial stress within customers operation.
When such a dispute occurs it is prudent s add this debt or portion there of to the doubtful
debt reserve. This is done to avoid over-stating the assets of the business as trade debtors is
reported net of Doubtful debt. When there is no longer any doubt that a debt in uncollectable
the debt becomes bad.

Because of the matching principle of accounting, revenues and expenses should be recorded in
the period in which they are incurred. When a sale is made on account, revenue is recorded
along with account receivable. Because there is an inherent risk that clients might default on
payment, accounts receivable have to be recorded at net realizable value. The portion of the
account receivable that is estimated to be not collectible is set aside in a contra-asset account
called Allowance for doubtful Accounts.

At the end of each accounting cycle, adjusting entries are made to charge uncollectible
receivable as expense. The actual amount of uncollectible receivable is written off as an
expense from Allowance for doubtful accounts.

Prepared by: Mohammad Faizan Farooq Qadri Attari

ACCA (Finalist)
http://www.ffqacca.co.cc
Contact: [email protected]
 FFQA 2
QUESTION FFQA1

At 30 September 2000, Z Ltd had a provision for doubtful debts of $37,000. During the year
ended 30 September 2001 the company wrote off debts totalling $18,000, and at the end of the
year it is decided that the provision for doubtful debts should be $20,000.
What should be included in the income statement for bad and doubtful debts?
A $35,000 debit B $1,000 debit C $38,000 debit D $1,000 credit

QUESTION FFQA2
Which of the following items could appear on the credit side of a receivables ledger control
account?
(1) Cash received from customers
(2) Bad debts written off
(3) Increase in allowance for doubtful debts
(4) Discounts allowed (5) Sales
(6) Credits for goods returned by customers
(7) Cash refunds to customers
A (1), (2), (4) and (6) B (1), (2), (4) and (7)
C (3), (4), (5) and (6) D (5) and (7)

QUESTION FFQA3
At 31 December 2002 a company’s receivables totalled $400,000 and an allowance for doubtful
debts of $50,000 had been brought forward from the year ended 31 December 2001.
It was decided to write off debts totalling $38,000 and to adjust the allowance for doubtful
debts to 10% of the receivables.
What charge for bad and doubtful debts should appear in the company’s income statement
for the year ended 31 December 2002?
A $74,200 B $51,800 C $28,000 D $24,200

QUESTION FFQA4
At 1 July 2002 the doubtful debt allowance of Q was $18,000.
During the year ended 30 June 2003 debts totalling $14,600 were written off. It was decided
that the doubtful debt allowance should be $16,000 as at 30 June 2003.
What amount should appear in Q’s income statement for bad and doubtful debts for the year
ended 30 June 2003?
A $12,600 B $16,600 C $48,600 D $30,600.

QUESTION FFQA5
A company’s gross profit percentage on sales has decreased by 5% in 2002 compared with 2001.
Which one of the following matters could have caused the decrease?
A The level of sales in 2002 is lower than that in 2001
B There have been more bad debts in 2002 than in 2001
C Inventory at the end of 2002 is lower than that at the end of 2001
D Theft of inventory by staff and customers has increased.
Prepared by: Mohammad Faizan Farooq Qadri Attari
ACCA (Finalist)
http://www.ffqacca.co.cc
Contact: [email protected]
 FFQA 3

QUESTION FFQA6
At 30 September 2002 a company’s allowance for doubtful debts amounted to $38,000, which
was five per cent of the receivables at that date.
At 30 September 2003 receivables totalled $868,500. It was decided to write off $28,500 of
debts as bad and to keep the allowance for doubtful debts at five per cent of receivables.
What should be the charge in the income statement for the year ended 30 September 2003
for bad and doubtful debts?
A $42,000 B $33,925 C $70,500 D $32,500

QUESTION FFQA7
A is a sole trader who does not keep full accounting records. The following details relate to her
transactions with credit customers and suppliers for the year ended 30 November 2003:
Trade receivables, 1 December 2002 130,000
Trade payables, 1 December 2002 60,000
Cash received from customers 686,400
Cash paid to suppliers 302,800
Discounts allowed 1,400
Discounts received 2,960
Bad debts 4,160
Amount due from a customer who is also a supplier offset against an amount due for goods
supplied by him 2,000
Trade receivables, 30 November 2003 181,000
Trade payables, 30 November 2003 84,000
Based on the above information, what figure should appear in A’s income statement for the
year ended 30 November 2003 for sales revenue?
A $748,960 B $748,800 C $744,960 D $743,560

Based on the above information, what figure should appear in A’s income statement for the
year ended 30 November 2003 for purchases?
A $283,760 B $325,840 C $329,760 D $331,760

QUESTION FFQA8
At 1 July 2003 a limited liability company had an allowance for doubtful debts of $83,000.
During the year ended 30 June 2004 debts totalling $146,000 were written off. At 30 June 2004
it was decided that a doubtful debt allowance of $218,000 was required.
What figure should appear in the company’s income statement for the year ended 30 June
2004 for bad and doubtful debts?
A $155,000 B $364,000 C $281,000 D $11,000

Prepared by: Mohammad Faizan Farooq Qadri Attari

ACCA (Finalist)
http://www.ffqacca.co.cc
Contact: [email protected]
 FFQA 4

QUESTION FFQA9
At 31 December 2004 a company’s trade receivables totalled $864,000 and the allowance for
doubtful debts was $48,000.
It was decided that debts totalling $13,000 were to be written off, and the allowance for
doubtful debts adjusted to five per cent of the receivables.
What figures should appear in the balance sheet for trade receivables (after deducting the
allowance) and in the income statement for the total of bad and doubtful debts?
SOCI SFP
Bad and doubtful debts Net trade receivables
A 8,200 807,800
B 7,550 808,450
C 18,450 808,450
D 55,550 808,450

QUESTION FFQA10
At 30 June 2004 a company’s allowance for receivables was $39,000. At 30 June 2005 trade
receivables totaled $517,000. It was decided to write off debts totalling $37,000 and to adjust
the allowance for receivables to the equivalent of 5 per cent of the trade receivables based on
past events.
What figure should appear in the income statement for these items?
A $61,000 B $22,000 C $24,000 D $23,850

Prepared by: Mohammad Faizan Farooq Qadri Attari

ACCA (Finalist)
http://www.ffqacca.co.cc
Contact: [email protected]
 FFQA 5

QUESTION FFQA11
At 1 January 2005 a company had an allowance for receivables of $18,000
At 31 December 2005 the company’s trade receivables were $458,000.
It was decided:
(a) To write off debts totalling $28,000 as irrecoverable;
(b) To adjust the allowance for receivables to the equivalent of 5% of the remaining receivables
based on past experience.
What figure should appear in the company’s income statement for the total of debts written
off as irrecoverable and the movement in the allowance for receivables for the year ended 31
December 2005?
A $49,500 B $31,500 C $32,900 D $50,900

QUESTION FFQA12
At 1 July 2005 a company’s allowance for receivables was $48,000.
At 30 June 2006, trade receivables amounted to $838,000. It was decided to write off $72,000
of these debts and adjust the allowance for receivables to $60,000.
What are the final amounts for inclusion in the company’s balance sheet at 30 June 2006?
Trade Allowance for Net
receivables receivables balance
A 838,000 60,000 778,000
B 766,000 60,000 706,000
C 766,000 108,000 658,000
D 838,000 108,000 730,000

QUESTION FFQA13
At 1 January 2006 a company had an allowance for receivables of $49,000.
At 31 December 2006 the company’s trade receivables were $863,000 and it was decided to
write off balances totalling $23,000 and to adjust the allowance for receivables to the
equivalent of 5% of the remaining receivables based on past experience.
What total figure should appear in the company’s income statement for bad debts and
allowance for receivables?
A $16,000 B $65,000 C $30,000 D $16,150

QUESTION FFQA14
At 30 June 2005 a company’s allowance for receivables was $39,000. At 30 June 2006 trade
receivables totaled $517,000. It was decided to write off debts totalling $37,000 and to adjust
the allowance for receivables to the equivalent of 5 per cent of the trade receivables based on
past events.
What figure should appear in the income statement for the year ended 30 June 2006 for
these items?
A $61,000 B $22,000 C $24,000 D $23,850

Prepared by: Mohammad Faizan Farooq Qadri Attari

ACCA (Finalist)
http://www.ffqacca.co.cc
Contact: [email protected]